Are the two triangles similar? How do you know?

Question

ashleyisakitty · Answer

attachment

ashleyisakitty · Answer

I thinks its yes by SSS.

mathstudent55 · Answer

Do you know how to prove triangles similar?
There are several methods, AA, SAS, SSS
Do you know what these methods means?

ashleyisakitty · Answer

not AA.

anonymous · Answer

I think they are similar by SAS

anonymous · Answer

Ash you know what SAS is?

ashleyisakitty · Answer

Can it be that w/o including any angle information?

anonymous · Answer

angle HMG and JMK are equal

mathstudent55 · Answer

What information do you have from the figure that helps you?

nincompoop · Answer

equal in size, equal in what?

anonymous · Answer

They are vertically opposite http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/vertically-opposite-angles.html

ashleyisakitty · Answer

I only have the side length, but theyre not the same. Does that mean they arent similar?

nincompoop · Answer

similar and congruence (equal) are two different terms that must distinguished.

anonymous · Answer

there is a difference between similar and congruent.
for similar triangles sides need not be same. Trianlges should be in same shape to be similar

mathstudent55 · Answer

No. 

Since the lengths are not the same, the triangles are not congruent, but you're not concerned with congruent triangles anyway, since the problem asks about similar triangles.

anonymous · Answer

anyway I think there are many smart guys here I should leave

nincompoop · Answer

you said equal though @thisSucks this is why I was a little perturbed if you're confusing people more than helping

anonymous · Answer

@nincompoop I said that for angles, which have to be EQUAL.

anonymous · Answer

anyway lets not argue. let @mathstudent55 take it from here and explain Ash

nincompoop · Answer

|dw:1379963318284:dw|

mathstudent55 · Answer

Two corresponding sides measure 8 cm and 12 cm.
Two other corresponding sides measure 6 cm and 9 cm.
The ratio in both cases 2 : 3.
Then you have the angles in between the sides are corresponding and congruent because they are vertical angles.
You have side - angle - side.
That is SAS.

ashleyisakitty · Answer

Thank you guys, the site crashed for me so i didnt see all of this until now.

mathstudent55 · Answer

I just got back too bec the same happened to me.

mathstudent55 · Answer

wlcm

anonymous · Answer

Yeah I think it crashed for all of us :)